Roller baling-machine.



Patented Nov. 7, I899. J. J. FAULKNER.

ROLLER BALING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Mar. 14, 18951) 4 SheetsSheet Wu'nes ses 9 52 2 w:uunms wzrzas co. Puoroumou WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 636,380. Patented Nov. 7, I899; J. J. FAULKNEB.

ROLLER BALING MACHINE.

(Application mad Mar. 14, 1899.)

(No Model.)

' Wn-esses frwezzfor THE Norms PETERS co, PNOTO-LITNO.. wAsmnu'rcm. n.c.

No. 636,380.- Patented Nov. 7, I899.

J. J. FAULKNEB.

ROLLER BALING MACHINE.

4 Shaw s-Sheet 3 (Apglication filed Mar, 14 1899. C N o M o d e I Wat;weso'e 5 N0. 636,380. Patented Nov. 7, I899.

J. J. FAULKNER.

ROLLER BALIN G MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 14, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

Wa'irwwes.

1m: umms vnzns cov lmonnmmv wnsumorox. a. c.

JAMES JONESFAULKNER, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO- THIRDS- TO'W. S. BRIAN AND R. WV. SPENCER, OF SAME PLACE.

ROLLER BALlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,380, dated November'7, 1899. Application filed March 14, 1899. 7 Serial No. 709,067. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern."

Be itknown that I, J AMES J ONES FAULKNER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelbyand State ofTennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RollerBaling-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to-which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to machines for baling cotton or other materialin which the same is rolled up into a cylindrical form, sufficientpressure being exerted upon the material during the process of rollingto insure the required density and compactness of the product.

By myinvention I propose to overcome certain difficulties which havebeen encountered in connection with prior machines and to produce anorganized mechanism which is well adapted in every particular to thesuccessful baling of cotton in cylindrical form. thin glproposetoimprove the method of feedingthe material to the machine,so that thebale may be rolled up in layers having the thickness and density whichbest adaptsit to the preparatory machinery of the spinner, and alsohaving greater uniformity than heretofore possible. It has beencustomary in machines of this kind to feed the cotton directly from thegin or gin-condenser to the baling-machine, making a continuousoperation of the ginning, condensing, and baling; but in such a methodit has been found impractical to supply the cotton to the baling-machinein as thick or heavy a bat as is most desirable, owing to the fact thatthe necessarily-increased density of the cotton on the condenser soobstructs the air-currents which are relied upon to feed the cotton fromthe gin to the condenser as to result in clogging or choking the gin.Moreover, in the customary method above referred to, the operation ofginning, condensing, and baling being continuous, the gin and condensermust be made to run in unison With the baling-machine, and thereforewhile a completed bale is being removed from the machine it becomesnecessary to stop the operation of the gin, involving a serious loss ofFor one 7 time and consequent expense to the ginner. By my invent-ionthe cotton is not fed from the gin or the gin-condenser to thebalingmachine directly, but is rolled up on suitable cores and in properlengths under light pressure as it is doffed from the condenser, andlap-rolls thus produced can be storedand used as required, thearrangement of my balingmachine being such that the cotton can be fed toit by doffing it from a number of these laprolls. By thus employing aplurality of laprolls at once in connection with suitable doffing andfeeding mechanism it will be understood that any desired thickness'ofbat for the bale can be had.

I further propose to improve the arrangement of means for rolling up thebale, Whereby the power which is employed to do this also exerts itselfto impose pressure upon the bale in proportion to the resistance to therolling action. Myimproved arrangement of parts for rolling the balealso provides for greater facility in ejecting the finished bale.

Another novel feature of the invention consists in an arrangement forimposing a supplemental pressure and an auxiliary rolling action uponthe bale, so as to hold the same in the compressed condition to which itis brought by the action of the main compressing means, thus relievingthe latter of unnecessary work of recompression.

In connection with the improved arrangement of bale-rolling means myinvention embraces novel core-controlling means whereby .the core iskept in the plane of the axes of a pair of main compressing-rollers,while permitted to adjust itself centrally between them, although one ofthese rollers recedes from the other in the arc of a circle.

My invention also embraces a signal or alarm arrangement whereby uponthe bale reaching a predetermined size the attendant is notified, sothat uniformity in the bales may be insured.

In evolving the invention and embodying the ideas above expressed l haveconstantly had in view simplicity and strength of construction and thedurability of the various parts of the machine, and above all thepracticability of the entire organization.

With the above-stated objects in view the ICO invention consists incertain novel construetions and combinations of parts, the essentialelements of which are recited in the appended claims and preferred formsof embodiment of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings andspecifically described hereinafter.

Of said drawings,l igure 1 represents in side elevation a machineconstructed in accordance with my invention, the parts beingrelativelypositioned as when the bale is started. Fig. 2 represents thesame in central vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 represents themachine in top plan view. Fig. 4 is a sectionalized side elevation ofthe central portion of the machine with the parts in the relativepositions they assume as the bale is completed and with the gearing onthe near side removed. Fig. 5 is a substantially horizontal sectiontaken on line V V of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a broken sectional view taken online VI VI of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 shows the core and appurtenances on anenlarged scale and in section.

Beginning at the feeding end of the machine, the letter a designates ahorizontal substantially rectangular frame which is supported at asuitable elevation by legs a, removably engaged with studs on bracketssecured to a suitable base I), the said frame supporting between itsside bars a number of rollers c c 0 two at opposite ends of the frameand a third at an intermediate point. Sprocket-wheels c are afiixed tothe journal of these rollers and sprocket-chains connect them, wherebyall of the rollers may be driven in a direction to feed material intothe press through driving connections hereinafter described. Afeeding-apron d passes around the end rollers c and c and above andbelow the middle roller 0, said apron receiving motion from the rollersand the layer of cotton or the cotton-bat being adapted to lie over theupper stretch of this apron and to pass therefrom into the machine.

At each side of the frame a upright guides are arranged, there being oneof such guides at each end of each of the rollers and each guidecomprising arms d, forming between them a slot extending radially of theroller and being open at its upper end. Vooden cores cl of lap-rolls dare provided with trunnions d, which engage the said slots of thevertical guides, and these lap-rolls rest by gravity upon the apron 61immediately over the rollers, respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.The traveling apron doffs the laps from the rolls, and by employing anumber of these lap-rolls at once it will be seen that a bat ofconsiderable thickness can be formed for the press by superimposing thelaps. Thus I am enabled to obtain the desired result of making the balein layers of the thickness required for the preparatory machinery of thespinner, while at the same time the ginning tperation is not obstructedfor it is not necessary to conform it to the operations of the press,but the cotton lap doffed from the condenser can be rolled up on woodencores and stored away for use in the press as required.

The frame of the feeding mechanism is suitably engaged with upright sidepieces fof the frame of the press, and the reference-letter e designatesa compressing-roller which is mounted in stationary bearings on saiduprights and occupies a position adjacent to the feeding-roller 0 sothat the hat of cotton can readily pass from the apron donto the upperside of the said compressing-roller. A small pressure-roller 0, locatedimmediately above said roller 6, is journaled in boxes 6 (see Fig. 6,)fitted to slide in vertical slots in the uprights f and presseddownwardly by springs 6 whose tension is regulated by adjustingbolts 6,the said small roller preliminarily compressing the bat of cotton asitis received from the apron. The frame-uprightsfhave bearings for ashaft g, on which are keyed large spur-gears g, meshing with pinions gaffixed on the opposite ends of the journal of the compressing-roller e,and through this gearing said roller is rotated in a direction to rollup the bale. The journal of said rollere also has affixed to it asprocket-wheel 0 connected by a chain c with a sprocket-wheel c affixedto the journal of the feed-roller 0 whereby motion in the properdirection is imparted to the feeding-rollers and apron. A pair of armsh, journaled upon the shaft g, are formed at their outer ends withbearings for the journal of a compressing-roller h, between which andthe roller 6 the bale is formed, the said compressing-roller h beingprovided with pinions 7L2, which mesh with the gears g, so as to bedriven thereby while at the same time permitted to partially revolvearound the same, after the manner of sun-and-planet gearing.

It will here be noted that in order to rotate the roller 7L in adirection to wind the bale it is necessary that the gears g rotate inthe opposite direction, and hence in the direction that the swingingsupports of the roller h would be constrained to move in order to applypressure to the bale, and hence resistance to the rotation of the rollerh in a direction to wind the bale results in converting the rotatingforce into a pressing force.

Of course as the bale grows between the compressing-rollers e and h thelatter swings downwardly and away from the roller 6, and as it isdesired to keep the center of the bale in the same plane with the axesof the two compression-rollers the following arrangement is adopted forsupporting a core *5, on which the bale is formed: Arms 1" are pivotedon the journal of the stationary compressing-roller 6, said arms beingslotted for the greaterportion of their length and embracing the journalof the roller it. These slotted arms constitute guides for boxes tfitted to the slots so as not to turn in the same and being formed withscrew-threaded bores receiving bolts i whose inner ends constitutecenters for the core, which is tapered from end to end and socketed forrotary engagement with said centers, as shown in Fig. 7. Said boxes havesecured to or formed with them flanges or plates i which extend over theouter sides of the said slotted arms, and plates or disks 1', extendingover the inner sides of said arms, these latter plates effecting thedesired flat formation of the ends of the bale and being notched atopposite sides, as shown at 1, so that when the two compressingrollersare close together their journals will be accommodated in such notches.(See dotted lines, Fig. 2.) It will be seen that by this arrangementwhatever may be the position of the swinging roller h the core willalways be in the same plane as the axes of the two compressing-rollersand is also free to assume a central position between the rollers.

An endless apron j passes around the compressing-rollers e and h andunder the coret and also under a flanged tensioning-rollerj,

ml springs j.

which is journaled in forward-extending arms 9' of a frame centrallypivoted upon a shaft 9' its rearward-extending arms 3' having perforatedside flanges embracing rods j pivoted to the brackets on the base I), soas'to accommodate themselves to the movements of the pivoted frame andconstituting guides for spi- These spiral springs exert themselves todepress the roller j, and thereby tighten the apron, and it will be seenthat the endless apron thus arranged cooperates with thecompressing-rollers in forming the bale, a bight being produced in theapron, in

which bight the core is positioned and the bale rolled up.

The shaftj upon which the pivoted frame is mounted, carries gear-wheels70, having compounded with them pinions 7c, meshing with the spur-gearsg, respectively, and the said gears It are in mesh with pinions k on adriving-shaft 20 which receives motion from any suitable source ofpower.

Arms m are pivoted upon the journal of the stationary compressing-rollere and are formed at their outer ends with bearings for the journal ofasupplemental or auxiliary roller m, whose journal carriessprocketwheels 711 connected by chains m with sprocket-wheels m aflixedto the journal -of the stationary compressing-roller 6. Spiral springs mcoupled through rods m with the arms on and connected at their lowerends with arms m on a rock-shaft m exert themselves to depress the saidroller m, and said rock-shaft is journaled in bearings upon the base I)and has a lever in the form of a loop m adapted to be engaged by arack-bar m which is pivoted to a bracket on the base I).

Said rack-bar is formed with a sufficient number of teeth to provide forany degree of pressure required to be exerted by the said spiral springsin depression of the auxiliary roller.

these cylinders communicates by a nipple n with a flexible pipe W, saidflexible pipe communicating witha stand-pipe 0, in which there is acolumn of water extending to a consideralole height.

In the operation of the machine, the parts being in the relativepositions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and a number of lap-rolls having beenput in place over the feed-apron, the latter will doff the laps and feedthem superimposed, forming a comparatively thick layer or bat of cottonbetween the apron j, where it lies over the stationarycompressing-roller e, and the preliminary pressure-roller e" thereabove,the said layer of cotton thence being conveyed by said apron under thecorei and pressed against the same and causedto wind thereon between twocompressing-rollers in the bight of the endless apron. It Will be seenthat from the very beginning the layer of cotton will have pressureimposed upon it by the two compressing-rollers and the said apron, andthat thereafter each convolution of the bale is subjected to increasingpressure. As the bale grows the bight in the apron increases against theresistance of the spiral springs j, associated with the pivoted frame jj, and the outward and downward movement of the roller h is resisted bythe hydraulic column, while at the same time the frictional resistanceof the belt to the rotation of the compressing-roller it, said beltacting in the nature of a brake, tends to convert the force which isapplied to rotate said roller into a force to press the latter againstthe bale. Therefore it will be seen that the layer of cotton isthoroughly compressed as it is rolled into the form of a cylindricalbale, and is, moreover, prevented from loosening on the upper side byreason of the pressure imposed upon it by the upper roller m, and ofcourse the apron prevents the loosening of the bale on the lower side,so that no recompression by the rollers is necessary, and the machine isthus relieved of unnecessary strain.

By mounting the receding compressingroller so that it moves downward andforward ejectment of the finished bale can be more efiectivelyaccomplished, for when the corecenters are retracted and the bightjerked out of the apron the bale will be tossed away from the machine.

I have provided an arrangement whereby when the bale reaches apredetermined size an alarm will be sounded, such arrangement comprisinga lever pivoted to one side of one of the ram-cylinders, as shown at r,and having adjustable arms 0" and 1*, one carrying a bell-clapper 1' andthe other projecting for engagement with the teeth of one of the pinionsof the roller 7t, so that when the latter is moved to a certain positionthe teeth of said pinion will encounter the lever-arm and cause avibration of the same, and consequently a striking of the clapperagainst a bell 9", which is properly mounted upon the ram-cylinder. Aspring r may be employed to normally hold the lever in a position wherethe clapper bears against one side of the bell. Upon the sounding of thealarm the attendant stops the machine, closes the valve 1), and retractsthe core centers, so that the bale will be ejected, and to prevent anyobstruction by the upper roller m the rack m can be readily disengagedfrom the loop m", so as to relieve the upper roller of springpressure.

It will be seen that a machine constructed and assembled as abovedescribed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings is welladapted to fulfil the objects primarily stated; but of course it is tobe understood that the construction shown is susceptible of a great manyvariations without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention, and therefore in the claims which follow I have recitedthe essential elements of the invention without limitation to anyparticular form of construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent 01": the United States, is-

1. In a roller baling-machine, the combination with a pair of opposedcompressing-rollers between which the bale is formed, one of saidrollers being curvilinearly movable toward and from the other, of a corebetween said rollers, and core-supports extending rectilinearly betweenjournals of the rollers and engaging the same with provisions formaintaining diametrical relation thereto under difierent relativepositions of the rollers, whereby the core is maintained in the plane ofthe axes of the rollers.

2. In a roller baling-machine, the combination with a pair of opposedcompressing-rollers between which the bale is formed, one of saidrollers being curvilinearly movable toward and from the other, of a corebetween said rollers, and core-supports extending rectilinearly betweenjournals of the rollers and engaging the same with provisions formaintaining diametrical relation thereto under different relativepositions of the rollers, the supports affording slideways for the corein alinement with the journals of the rollers, whereby the core ismaintained in the plane of the axes of the rollers.

3. In a roller baling-machine, the combination with a pair of opposedcompressing-rollers between which the bale is formed, one of saidrollers being cnrv'llinearly movable toward and from the other, of acore between said rollers, and slotted core-supports extendingrectilinearly between the journals of the rollers and engaging the same,the slots providing for the maintenance of diametrical relation of thesupports to the rollers under different relative positions of thelatter, Whereby the core is maintained in the plane of the axes of therollers.

4:- In a rollerbaling-machine, the combination of a compressing-rollerin stationary bearings, an opposed compressing-roller in a swingingsupport, a core between said rollers, and slotted arms constitutingcore-supports, said arms being pivoted concentric with the axis of oneof the rollers and their slotted portions embracing the journals of theother roller, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a rollerbaling-machine, the combination of a compressing-roller instationary bearings, an opposed compressing-roller in a swingingsupport, a core between said rollers, and slotted arms pivotedconcentric with the axis of one of the rollers, their slotsaccommodating the journals of the other roller and also affordingslideways for the core.

6. In a roller baling-machine, the combination of a compressing-rollerin stationary bearings, an opposed compressing-roller in a swingingsupport, a core between said rollers, and slotted arms constitutingcore-guides, said arms being pivoted concentrically with the axis of thestationary roller, and embracing the journals of the swinging roller. 7.In a rollerbaling-machine, the combination of a compressing-roller instationary bearings, an opposed compressing-roller in a swingingsupport, acore between said rollers, core-guides pivoted concentricallywith the axis of the stationary roller and engaged with the swingingroller whereby said core is maintained at all times in a plane embracingthe axes of the two rollers, an apron passing over said rollers andunder the core, tensioning means applied to the apron, and drivingmechanism connected with the rollers.

8. In a roller baling-machine, the combination with a pair of opposedcompressing-rollers between which the bale is formed, one of saidrollers being curvilinearly movable toward and from the other, of a corebetween said rollers, core-guidin g means engaged with the latterwhereby the core is maintained in the plane of the axes of the rollers,an apron passing over said rollers and under said core, and tensioningmeans applied to said apron.

9. In a roller baling-press, the combination of a compressing-rollerjournaled in a movable support and having a gear, astationarily-journaled gear meshing therewith and rotating the roller ina direction to roll up the bale by movement in the pressure-applyingdirection of movement of the movable sup-- port for the roller, wherebyresistance to rotation of the latter results in application of pressureby the rotating force, and frictional resistance means in the nature ofa brake applied to said roller and operatingto oppose rotation thereofand thus cause the roller to exert pressure against the bale.

10. In a roller baling-press, the combination of a compressing-rollerjournaled in a movable support and having a gear, a gear meshingtherewith and rotating the roller in a direction to roll up the balebymovement in the pressure-applying direction of movement of the movablesupport for the roller, whereby resistance to rotation of the latterresults in application of pressure by the rotating force, an apron onsuitable supports and passing around said roller, and tensioning meansapplied to said apron.

11. In a roller baling-machine, the combination of a pair ofcompressing-rollers one movable toward and from the other and pressedtoward the same, a core between said rollers in a plane embracing theiraxes, means for maintaining said corein such relation to thecompressing-rollers during the formation of the bale, a third rollerarranged to press against the latter as it forms, means for driving allof said rollers, an apron passing over the pair of compressing-rollersand under the core, and tensioning means applied to said apron.

12. In a roller baling-machine, the combination of a pair ofcompressing-rollers between which the bale is formed one of said rollersbeing movable toward and from the other and pressed toward the same, athird roller arranged to press against the bale as it forms, andjournaled in a support which is pivoted concentrically with one of saidpair of rollers, and driving mechanism connected with all of saidrollers.

13. In a roller baling-machine, the combination of a centrally-locatedspur-gear, a stationarily-journaled compressing-roller having a gear inmesh with the latter, a supplemental roller journaled in a supportpivoted concentrically with said pressure-roller and geared thereto, anda compressing-roller movable toward and from the first-named roller andpressed toward the same and geared to the spur-gear. I

14. In a roller baling-machine, the combination of a pair ofcompressing-rollers between which the bale is formed one of said rollersbeing journaled in a swinging support and pressed toward the other, acore in guides maintainin git in the plane of the axes of said rollerswhile permitting its self-adjustment, a central spur-gear concentricwith the pivot of said swinging-roller support, gears on the two rollersin mesh with said central spurgear, and a supplemental roller journaledin a support pivoted concentrically with one of the first-named rollersand geared thereto.

' 15. In a roller baling-machine, the combination of a pair ofcompressing-rollers between which the bale is formed one of said rollersbeing journaled in a swinging support and pressed toward the other, acore in guides maintaining it in the plane of the axes of said rollerswhile permitting its self-adjustment, a central spur-gear concentricwith the pivot of said swinging-roller support, "ears on the two rollersin mesh with said central spurgear, a supplemental roller journaled in asupport pivoted concentrically with one of the first-named rollers andgeared thereto, an apron passing over the pair of pressurerollers andunder the core, and tensioning means applied to said apron.

16. In a roller baling-machine, the combination of a compressing-rollerin a swinging support, a pivoted ram-cylinder and a plunger-rodpivotally embracing the journal of said roller and having a plungerWithin the' cylinder.

17. In a roller baling-machine, the combi nation of a compressing-rollerin a swinging support, a pivoted ram-cylinder, a plungerrod pivotallyconnected with said roller and having a plunger within the cylinder, ahydraulic column, and a flexible pipe connecting said column with thecylinder.

18. In a roller baling-machine, the combination of a driving spur-gear,a compressingroller journaled in a support pivoted concentrically withsaid gear, said roller having a pinion in mesh therewith, a plunger-rodpivotally connected with said roller, and a pivoted cylinder receivingsaid plunger-rod.

19. In a roller baling-machine, the combination with acompressing-roller in swinging supports, of a pair of united andcommunieating pivotal ram-cylinders, plunger-rods therein pivotallyembracing opposite end portions of the roller-journals, and awater-column communicating with said cylinders.

20.'In a roller baling-machine, a bodilymovable compressing-rollerhaving a gear, and an alarm device having a vibratory arm projecting forengagement with the teeth of said gear at a predetermined position ofthe latter.

21. In a roller baling-machine, a bodilymovable compressing-rollerhaving a gear, and an alarm device having a vibratoryarm projecting forengagement with the teeth of said gear at a predetermined position ofthe latter and adjustable toward and from the same.

22. In a roller baling-machine, a central driving spur-gear, a swingingsupport concentric therewith, a compressing-roller journaled in saidsupport and having a pinion in mesh with said spur-gear, a pivotedram-cylinder, a plunger-rod pivotally connected with the said roller, analarm-bell on the said cylinder, and a clapper device having an armprojecting for engagement with the said pinion when the same reaches apredetermined position, substantially as described.

23. In a roller baiing-machine, a central I gagement with the saidpinion when the same :0 driving spur-gear, a swinging support conreachesa predetermined position, substancentric therewith, a compressing-rollerjourtially as described. naled in said support and having apinion in Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature 5 mesh with said spur-gear, apivoted rani-cylin presence of two witnesses.

i-nder, a plunger-rod pivotally connected with JAMES JONES FAULKNER. thesaid roller, an alarm-bell on the said cyll \Vitnesses:

inder, and an adjustable clapper-lever piv- J. L. RUDY, oted on thecylinder and projecting for en- JAS. COX.

